Dateline: October 16, 2003

Officials call 52nd festival great success

By Cheryl Johnson, Clarendon Enterprise

The Hedley Lions Club sponsored the 52nd annual Cotton Festival on Saturday; and according to Boss Lion Anthony Knowles, the attendance was good for the festivities.

“The Cotton Festival was a great success,” Knowles said.  “It was successful because of the people who helped with the events and all those who attended.”

The Lions Club served over 200 plates of barbecue on Saturday and gave away a bale of cotton to Drake Carson. The names of the winners of the Moremaker Knife and the carpet cleaning certificate, which were also given away by the Lions Club on Saturday evening, were not available at press time. 

Alisha Berry of Memphis won the beautiful quilt given away by the Lioness Club on Friday night.  Kathy Spier of Hedley won the trailer made by the Hedley FFA.  

Several school organizations, the Rowe Cemetery Association, and the Hedley Senior Citizens held fund-raisers on Saturday. Martha Lowe of Clarendon won the bathroom basket given away by the Senior Citizens.

The Antique Tractor and Car Show kicked activities off Saturday on Main Street. There were 15 entries in the tractor show and nine entries in the car show. Best of Show honors for the tractor show wen to Blackie Johnson of Memphis with his 1948 AC Model G. W.D. Tillman drove the longest distance for the contest with his 1941 John Deere.  Brittney Bennett of Lelia Lake won Best of Show honors in the Car Show with her 1966 Ford Mustang.  Jim Caviness of Amarillo drove the longest distance with his 1955 Chevrolet 210. 

Other winners of the tractor show were Leon Ward, first place, 1935 Allis-Chalmer; Blackie Johnson, first, 1943 LA; Bob Hawkins, second, 1948 Cub Farmall; Eddie Stegall, third, 1943 B; Blackie Johnson, first, 1952 Cub; Larry Wiginton, second, 1955 70 John Deere; and Eddie Stegall, third, 1950 H Farmall.

Other winners of the car show were Delbert Wilson of Childress, first, 1934 Ford Coupe; Ken Carden of Clarendon, second, 1949 Hudson; Jim Caviness of Amarillo, first, 1955 Chevy 210; Mr. Withaker of Hedley, second, 1951 Hudson Pacemaker; David Moss of Clarendon, second, 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 10; and Vernon Patton, third, 1967 Chevy Chevelle.

All the participants in the Kiddie Parade were awarded certificates and given candy for their efforts. Immediately following the Kiddie Parade was the Community Parade with several entries from Hedley and surrounding towns.  Winners of the parade were: Commercial Division – Moffitt Hardware (first), Clarendon-Donley County Chamber of Commerce (second), The Big Texans (third); Hedley Organizations – Hedley Junior High School (first), Hedley Lioness (second), Hedley High Football Team (third); Cars – Jim Caviness (first), Delbert Wilson (second), Vernon Patton (third); and Tractors – Eddie Stegall (first and second), and Bob Hawkins (third).

The Hedley School Reunion was held after the parade at the Hedley School. Over 300 ex-students, teachers, and employees of Hedley School enjoyed an afternoon of visiting and refreshments. There were three former teachers Thelma Shields, Doyle Messer, and Connie DeBord in attendance along with several current teachers at the school. 

“We had a fantastic crowd and plenty of food for everyone,” said Mary Farris, who helped with the event.  Marie and R.E. Butler organized the reunion in honor of their brother, Alva Ray Butler.

Plans are already in the works for next year’s reunion, which will be an all day event at the Cotton Festival.  Organizers would like to have every class represented at the reunion.  For more information contact Sue Alexander in Memphis, Mary Farris in Clarendon, or Kathy Spier in Hedley.

“I would like to thank everyone for supporting the festival,” said Knowles.  “Especially the Lion members and others who helped organize and work at the festival.”